Many farmers in Uttarakhand have switched to adopting high density plantings of new apple varieties in mid-altitude range of 1,000-1,500 metres above sea level. They were aided by training in HDP (High Density Plantation) from the 'Unnati apple project', a CSR intervention of Coca Cola India along with Bhimtal-based Indo Dutch Horticulture Technologies and G B Pant University Of Agriculture and Technology.
With technical and financial support from the Unnati project, Devi planted 250 apple saplings of 'Gala mema' and 'Red Delicious' varieties in five areas in 2021.
With traditional methods, it is difficult to get a crop for harvesting even after six years but in HDP method it was possible to get the crop from second year onwards with yields expected to go up to 50 kg per tree from fifth year. Due to early maturity and better returns, many farmers in Uttarakhand are taking up this new method of apple cultivation.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com